Report 2013-107 Recommendation 10 Responses
Report 2013-107: Accounts Outside the State's Centralized Treasury System: Processes Exist to Safeguard Money, but Controls for These Accounts Need Strengthening (Release Date: October 2013)
Recommendation #10 To: Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of
To safeguard cost recovery program revenue, Cal Fire should, within the next six months, develop a process to track civil cost recovery cases statewide to monitor compliance with policies as well as monitor collection status.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Civil Cost Recovery Database was completed on or about January 2015 and is fully implemented.
- Completion Date: January 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
CalFire implemented the Civil Cost Recovery Case Management System (aka CLAR) to track the status of cost recovery cases. CalFire management can query CLAR for both open and closed cases, and by case manager, unit, or region. Open cases include those for which CalFire is pursuing cost recovery or those that it believes are suitable for cost recovery. The important dates for each case are displayed in the case summary tab for the fire. In addition, a receivables tab shows the amount and form of payment, date received and the person receiving the payment. Cases are not marked closed until payment in full is received.
1-Year Agency Response
CAL FIRE has already completed data gathering on all Civil Cost Recovery (CCR) Program active cases.
On or about October 18, 2013, direction was issued from CAL FIRE's executive management requiring a complete listing of all active CCR Program cases on a statewide basis be complied and provided to CCR Program staff in Sacramento Headquarters. Direction was also given requiring, at minimum, monthly reporting of any change in case number or status to the CCR Program in Sacramento Headquarters.
Furthermore, in November 2013, CAL FIRE's Information Technology Services developed a project charter and strategic objectives for the development of a CCR Program database. The CCR Program database, once completed, will integrate with existing labor accounting systems. Work on this project remains in progress with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2014.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 31, 2014
- Response Date: October 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
6-Month Agency Response
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has already completed data gathering on all Civil Cost Recovery (CCR) Program active cases.
On or about October 18, 2013, direction was issued from CAL FIREs executive management requiring a complete listing of all active CCR Program cases on a statewide basis be complied and provided to CCR Program staff in Sacramento Headquarters. Direction was also given requiring, at minimum, monthly reporting of any change in case number or status to the CCR Program in Sacramento Headquarters.
Furthermore, in November 2013, CAL FIREs Information Technology Services developed a project charter and strategic objectives for the development of a CCR Program database. The CCR Program database, once completed, will integrate with existing labor accounting systems. Work on this project remains in progress with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2014.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 31, 2014
- Response Date: April 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented
60-Day Agency Response
CAL FIRE has already completed data gathering on all CCR Program active cases.
On or about October 18, 2013, direction was issued from CAL FIRE's executive management requiring a complete listing of all active CCR Program cases on a statewide basis be complied and provided to CCR Program staff in Sacramento Headquarters. Direction was also given requiring, at minimum, monthly reporting of any change in case number or status to the CCR Program in Sacramento Headquarters.
Furthermore, in November 2013, CAL FIRE's Information Technology Services developed a project charter and strategic objectives for the development of a CCR Program database. The CCR Program database, once completed, will integrate with existing labor accounting systems. Work on this project remains in progress with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2014.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 31, 2014
- Response Date: December 2013
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented
All Recommendations in 2013-107
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.